Capoeira Beyond Brazil: From a Slave Tradition to an International Way of Life

Aniefre Essien, or "Tartaruga" paints a very unique picture of Capoeira as an an artform and community in his new book, Capoeira Beyond Brazil. While most of the other Capoeira books on the market are written by native Brazilians who grew up playing Capoeira in Brazil, their perspectives can be very difficult for non-native capoeiristas to understand as the artform clearly has a much different role in their society. Tartaruga, on the other hand, is an American who stumbled into the art much in the same way many other Americans did. He quickly moved up through the ranks, to where he currently stands as Professor for the group Raizes do Brasil. This book tells his perspective, as an advanced American-born Capoeirista, who started a Capoeira school and worked extensively with at-risk youth in Oakland. While identifying many of the basic tenets of Capoeira that one expects from a serious Capoeira book, (history, etc) Tartaruga goes a step further and explains intangibles like "Malicia," "stealing time" or "Mandinga" in chapters like "Attitude and Etiquette' in the Roda or "Philosophies of Capoeira." As a beginner Capoerista, these chapters were very helpful to me in expanding my "Capoeira Vocabulary" and complementing all the physical training I suffer through. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Essien tells the story of many individual American capoeirstas in the Oakland area, both through interviews and short profile/stories. These touching and compelling stories explain how Capoeira can become such a birght source of light in dark lives, similar, in many ways, to as it was in slave times. These stories serve as both a source of inspiration and a beacon of hope, for anyone, Capoerista or not, American-born or from Brazil. This book is an absolute must read for any Capoerista at any level, particularly for any non-Brazillian Capoerista trying to understand the role Capoeira can and should have in his or her life and community. The book is easy to read, well written, and incredibly inspiring. It also makes you a better Capoeirsta.